Shoar blasts agents

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The Florida Department of Law Enforcement is investigating the actions of a former agent of the year and his boss after St. Johns County Sheriff David Shoar complained that the agent acted illegally and irresponsibly in the death investigation of a deputy’s girlfriend.

FDLE officials stripped Agent Rusty Rodgers of his gun and badge Friday and put him on paid administrative leave as part of the probe into the 2010 death of Michelle O’Connell, FDLE Spokeswoman Gretl Plessinger said. The FDLE sent Shoar a letter Friday telling him about the probe.

Shoar has repeatedly said he is convinced that the death of O’Connell, 24, was a suicide based on the findings of his detectives in two separate investigations and concurrences from four medical examiners — one of whom later changed his mind — and the state attorney appointed by Gov. Rick Scott to review the FDLE’s case.

Shoar accused Rodgers of tainting the case through myriad misconduct to support his belief that O’Connell was killed by Deputy Jeremy Banks. He’s blamed Rodger’s boss, Dominick Pape, of supporting his actions.

Pape, who led the FDLE’s Jacksonville office as special-agent-in-charge, announced his resignation last week effective next month. He said he’d gotten another job.

Pape and Rodgers are on notice to avoid contact with the media or any civilians connected to the case, said Cindy Sanz, director of the FDLE’s Office of Executive Investigations, which is leading the internal probe. Sanz, in the letter to Shoar, also asked that his agency refrain from interviewing any witnesses.

Shoar applauded the FDLE’s decision to adhere to his concerns.

“I’m very pleased that the Florida Department of Law Enforcement is investigating the conduct of their two employees,” Shoar said. He declined to comment further.

Rodgers declined to comment, while Pape could not be reached to comment. FDLE officials declined to comment.

Shoar blasts agents

Shoar blasted the death investigation two weeks ago after a letter he wrote calling for a probe of Rodgers and Pape was delivered to FDLE Commissioner Gerald Bailey. Rarely does a law enforcement official publicly criticize another police agency or its agents.

The allegations against Rodgers are in a 152-page report done by Shoar’s detectives and delivered to Bailey with the letter of complaint.

The allegations include: Rodgers falsified information for search warrants and to influence medical authorities, coached witnesses and shared his theories and perception of what he believed the evidence showed, and acted as the O’Connell family’s advocate and enabler rather than an objective investigator.

Rodgers earns $45,800 annually with the state police agency, where he has worked since 2006 after retiring from the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office. The FDLE named him co-agent of the year in 2009.

Shoar accused Pape and Rodgers of lacking credibility as cops and said he would fire them if he were their boss.

State Attorney Brad King of Marion County, appointed by Gov. Rick Scott to review Rodgers’ investigation of the case, ruled O’Connell committed suicide and closed the case in March 2012. The FDLE said the investigation of the death remains closed.

Shoar called in the FDLE four months after the Sept. 2, 2010, shooting at O’Connell’s home. He said he wanted to avoid any hint of bias since not only did Banks work for Shoar but O’Connell’s brother, Scott, also was a St. Johns County deputy and their mother worked as a clerk in the office. The family has repeatedly insisted Banks killed O’Connell.

Shoar fired O’Connell’s brother after he was accused of making a threatening outburst when told Banks wasn’t being prosecuted. The mother, Patty O’Connell, eventually quit.

Scott O’Connell recently met with Shoar, apologized for the outburst and said Rodgers misled him into believing Banks killed his sister, records show.

Family sees murder

Several family members of Michelle O’Connell have given multiple reasons why they believe she was slain, including her recent promotion. She also told her family she was going to leave Banks and was packing that night. And just before the shooting, she texted a sister that she was coming to pick up her young daughter after a concert.

Banks told investigators O’Connell shot herself in the bedroom of their home after the couple had talked about breaking up. Banks’ service pistol was found near her body. Investigators found she had a large amount of gunshot residue on her hand, while Banks had a residue spot that Shoar attributes to his holding O’Connell’s hand as she lay dying. They had just returned home from the concert.

Assistant Medical Examiner Frederick Hobin changed O’Connell’s manner of death from suicide to homicide nine months later without explanation. Hobin signed an affidavit amending the death certificate that listed the manner of death as a homicide “shot by another person.”

Shoar said Thursday that Hobin’s boss, Chief Medical Examiner Predrag Bulic, told him that Hobin was “bullied” into the change by Rodgers. Shoar said he didn’t know details.

The 152-page report came from a team of investigators Shoar assembled in early February to review the FDLE probe and the original case. Shoar voiced concern about miscues by his office, including a failure to talk with neighbors the night of O’Connell’s death and to isolate Banks before he was interviewed.

Shoar said none of the actions by his deputies, several of whom received reprimands, changed his opinion about the manner of death.

In one of many twists in the case, Shoar told the Times-Union that he ordered the review by his detectives in part because he’d been told at least one FDLE agent had talked with a New York Times investigative reporter about the death. Shoar said he’d also spoken with the reporter, whose story has yet to appear.

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Cops with nothing to hide don't wait four months to get a neutral party to investigate. Don't you think it is funny that not one cop the night of suicide\murder talked to the neighbors?
The whole investigation from SJCSO and FDLE stinks.
How many cases has FDLE cleared SJCSO people of? Will they be looking at all those? What I "get" is this is just ugly all over!
Amateur hour from start to finish.

What would Pape or Rodgers have to gain by being a part of this?
If they were gonna go after Shoar, why this case?
Is there a connection between them and OConnell or Banks?
Why would Shoar go so far to help Banks?
Nothing adds up!!